Ice cube making machine



P 1965 A. M. GALLO 3,206,944

ICE CUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1962 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALBERT M. GALLO ATTORNEY p 1, 965 A. M. GALLO 3,206,944

ICE CUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i ian.-

.iiIHIHHIHII I INVENTOR. ALB ERT M. GA LLQ BY 9 W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,206,944 ICE CUBE MAKING MACHINE Albert M. Gallo, 711 Haverford, Pacific Palisades, Calif. Filed Nov. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 235,336 6 Claims. (Cl. 62-347) This invention relates generally to ice making machines and more particularly to commercial type ice making machines providing ice cubes.

Conventional ice making machines for providing ice cubes usually require the carrying out of two major steps. First, a slab of ice is formed and .second, the slab is then out in some manner to provide the cubes. Accordingly, these prior art machines require moving parts or at least auxiliary equipment to effect the cutting operation of the slab of ice once the .slab has been formed. The machines are thus not only complicated but are diflicult to provide in compact configurations as a consequence of the necessity of apparatus for cutting the slab. In addition, there is required more water circulation than would be the case if cube-s could be formed instantly since there is necessarily a certain amount of ice converted to water during the cutting operation.

With all of the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a greatly improved ice making machine in which the foregoing disadvantages are overcome.

More particularly, it is an object to provide an ice making machine which forms cubes directly so that no cutting or equivalent operation is necessary to the end that moving parts or auxiliary equipment heretofore necessary to cut a slab of ice into cubes is wholly avoided.

Another important object is to provide an improved ice making machine which is relatively compact.

Still another object is to provide an improved ice making machine in which water circulation is minimized to the end that greater speed and efiiciency are realized in producing ice cubes.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing a freezing plate having a stepped configuration. The various steps define essentially horizontally extending L-shaped channels. These channels include plastic partitions periodically spaced therealong to define individual cubicles. Suitable freezing means are then provided behind the stepped configuration and a water spilling means is provided at the upper end of the configuration. The arrangement is such that water will spill from the water spill means in a film and flow down the stepped con- [figuration passing through the individual cubicles. Ice will then be formed directly into cube shapes in the individual cubicles. By then providing a conventional reverse cycle through the freezing means to heat the same, the ice cubes will be free of the cubicles and fall directly into a collection bin. There are thus provided individual ice cubes without the necessity of any cutting operations.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring to preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the basic freezing plate configuration forming an essential part of the ice making machine;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken in the direction of the arrows H of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross section of a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the basic components making up the entire ice making machine;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross section of another embodiment of the invention; and,

FIGURE 6 shows a modified freezing plate construction.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the basic portion of the ice making machine comprises a freezing plate 10 formed in a generally stepped configuration. As shown, the stepped configuration defines a plurality of first surfaces 11, 12, 13, 14, and facing in a generally downward direction and a plurality of second surfaces 16, 17, 1'8, '19, and facing generally in an upward direction.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the second upwardly facing surfaces include plastic coatings such as indicated at 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. These surfaces define generally L-shaped channels such as indicated by the first pair of surfaces 11 and 16 and designated generally by the arrow 26. Along the various L-shaped channels are partition means in the form of individual plastic partitions 27 periodically spaced so as to define cubicles designated generally by the numeral 28. These cubicles are open on the top and front portions as shown.

At the upper end of the stepped shaped freezing plate, there is provided water spilling means in the form of a cylindrically shaped splash plate 29 and a co-axially disposed header pipe 30. The arrangement is such that water will be passed from the header pipe down the splash plate 29 to pass over the stepped configuration of the freezing plate 10 and thence finally collect in a reservoir channel 31 shown at the lower end of the freezing plate. Conventional pumping equipment (not shown) may the be provided to reciroulate the water from the channel 31 up to the header pipe 30.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that suitable freezing means in the form of pipes 32 are disposed behind the first downwardly facing surfaces such as the surface 11. These pipes connect to a conventional expansion valve and constitute the conventional type freezing tubes, properly positioned to provide a gradient along the surfaces so that ice will build up on the surfaces.

To insure uniform build-up of ice cubes in each of the cubicles, the header pipe is provided with lateral side openings such as indicated at 33- spaced longitudinally along the header pipe. Thus, the number of side openings correspond to the number of cubicles so that there is an individual side opening for each cubicle so that water passing therefrom will pass into the first individual cubicle and then flow over the edge of the stepped configuration into the next cubicle, and so forth.

FIGURE 3 shows a modified construction wherein there are provided first and second surfaces 34 and 35 defining generally L-shaped channels with partitions to make up a freezing plate. A plastic bead 36 in turn is formed at the apex of the surfaces 34 and 35 to divide the compartments in such a manner that two ice cubes may :be formed in each compartment. Towards this end, the freezing means in the form of piping 38 is positioned to the rear of the stepped configuration to conduct heat from both the surfaces 34 and 35. Water spilling over the stepped configuration will cause two cubes to build up simultaneously such as indicated at 39 and 40 within each compartment.

FIGURE 4 schematically illustrates the basic components for operating the ice making machine. As shown, there is provided a compressor 41 arranged to be operated by .a timer 42. Compressed gas passes to a condenser C and thence through a conduit 43 to the expansion valve 44 and into the freezing pipe 32 as indicated by the arrows. A receiver R and heat exchanger 45 are provided in the line 43 as shown. From the freezing pipe 3 2, the expanded gas passes into the heat exchanger 45 and thence back to the compressor 41 through a con duit 46.

In the meantime, water from the header pipe 30 passes through the various outlet side openings 33 and down the splash plate and the front of the stepped configuration of the freezing plate to the reservoir 31 from whence it is pumped back up by means of a pump 47 to the header pipe 30.

The overall operation of the ice making machine will be understood from the foregoing description. In the case of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, water will continuously be passed from the header pipe 30 to the reservoir 31 and thence back to the header pipe 30 by means of the pump 47 as described in conjunction with FIGURE. 4. As the water flows down from the individual side outlet openings from the header pipe 30 through the various individual cubicles defined by the partitions 27, the first freezing plate surfaces facing generally downwardly against which the freezing pipes 32 are positioned, will be sufiiciently cold to cause ice to start to form thereon. This ice will build up into cubes in the individual compartments, the bottom of the cubes being formed on the plastic coatings.

After a given length of time, calculated to enable a cube of desired size to build up in the compartment, the timer 42 of FIGURE 4 operates a solenoid valve S in a line L between the compressor 41 and tubes 32 as shown in FIGURE 4 so that heated gases pass directly from the compressor through the tubes 32, thereby heating the first surfaces and permitting the ice to separate therefrom. The ice cubes will then slide down the plastic coatings on the second surfaces and fall free of the stepped configuration as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2.

After the ice cubes have fallen free of the freezing plate, the timer 42 is so adjusted as to commence the freezing cycle again and with continuous water fiowing down over the stepped configuration, another set of cubes will be formed.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, the disposition of the tubes 38 is such that both the surfaces 34 and 35 are equally exposedto freezing temperatures so that dual cubes will build up such as described at 39 and 40. These cubes are separated by the plastic bead 36 at the apex of the L-shaped channels. By re-adjusting the timer to a somewhat shorter cycle, the cubes 39 and 40 may be released from the L-shaped channels prior to merging together at the extreme front portion of the plastic bead 36 at the apex so that two individual cubes may be formed in each cubicle.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is shown yet a further modified form of the invention wherein a freezing plate is provided with inclined surfaces such as 48 and 49 forming L-shaped channels. In FIGURE 5, however, the freezing plate also includes a smaller stepped portion defined by L surfaces 50 and 51 receiving a plastic insert 52. This plastic insert extends the entire length of the horizontal intersecting portions of the L-shaped channels. There may be provided periodically spaced partitions such as indicated at 53. p

The plastic strips 52 serve to cradle small elongated trap-door structures indicated at 54 and pivoted at 55. These trap doors extend along the entire horizontal distance of the stepped portions and include operating means in the form of a vertical rod 56 pivoted to the various doors as at 57 for the door 54. The trap-door structures may be plastic so that ice will not adhere thereto.

With the foregoing arrangement, movement of the rod 56 downwardly will serve to simultaneously swing the doors such as doors 54 and 58 downwardly to the dotted line positions. The rod 56 may be actuated by the timer 42 as shown in FIGURE and as described in conjunction with FIGURE 4 so that it will slide open at the same time that the freezing plate surfaces are defrosted.

While the preferred form of the invention avoids the use of the trap doors such as described at 54 and 58, by employing doors of this type, it is possible to form almost perfect cubes.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, there is shown a modified freezing tube and platev assembly wherein the back surface of the freezing plate 59, for example, cooperates with C-shaped channel conduits such as 60 and 61 to define interior tubular passages for the refrigerant. The hatshaped channels 60 and 61 may be brazed or otherwise secured to the back surface of the freezing plate 59 as indicated at 62.

With the foregoing arrangement, the freezing surface of the plate 59 constitutes an actual wall portion of the freezing conduits for the refrigerant, and thus a highly eflicient heat transfer system for removing heat from the freezing plate surface 59 is provided.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the present invention has provided a greatly improved ice making machine. Not 'only is the entire machine capable of being made in a very compact configuration as a consequence of avoiding the necessity for any cutting means, but in addition, there are, in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3, eliminated moving parts which may become mechanically out of order. Further, water circulation is maintained at a minimum, and ice cubes are formed instantly in a one step process to the end that a more efficient overall ice making machine is provided.

Various changes will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, it is not necessarythat the stepped configuration define exact cubicles. Other shapes could be provided if desired. The ice making machine is therefore not to be thought of as limited to the exact-embodiments set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. An ice making machine comprising, in combination: a freezing plate having a stepped configuration providing pairs of first and second surfaces facing generally downwardly and upwardly respectively to define a series of horizontally extending L-shaped channels, the second lower surfaces defining the horizontal portion of the L- shape, sloping downwardly; partition means positioned periodically along said channels to define cubicle shaped enclosures therebetween having open top and front portions; freezing means disposed behind said stepped configuration; water spilling .means for causing water to flow onto said stepped configuration whereby ice cubes are built up in said cubicles; and means for heating said freezing plate to free said ice cubes so that they slide free of said cubicles by gravity with said freezing plate remaining in its initial position.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which said water spilling means comprises a cylindrically. curved splash plate connecting to the first of said pairs of surfaces; and a header pipe substantially co-axial with said splash plate and including a plurality of side outlet openings longitudinally spaced along said header pipe in positions.corresponding to the spacing of said cubicles; and means for supplying water to said header pipe whereby said water pours out said outlet openings to spill from said splash plate and flow down said stepped configuration.

3. A machine according to claim 1, in which said upward-1y facing second surfaces have plastic coatings thereover, said freezing means comprising pipes secured to the rear of said first surfaces, and said means for heating said freezing plate including means for passing heated fluid through said pipes, said ice cubes sliding down said plastic coatings when said pipes are heated.

4. A machine according to claim 1, in which said L- shaped channels include plastic be-ads at their apex portions to divide said cubicles, said freezing means comprising pipes disposed along the back sides of said L- shaped channels in positions to conduct heat from both of said first and second surfaces ahead of said plastic beads, whereby two cubes are built up simultaneously in each cubicle.

5. A machine according to claim 1, including elongated door means extending in front of said cubicles; and means for simultaneously actuating said door means to open the front of said cubicles and permit said cubes to slide free.

6. A machine according to claim 1, in which said freezing means comprise hat-shaped channels disposed along the back sides of said L-shaped channels, one wall portion of each of said hat-shaped channels constituting portions of said back sides of said L-shaped channels so that closed conduits are defined by cooperation of said hat-shaped channels and said back sides of said L-shaped channels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Mojonnier et a1 62--516 X Johannsen 62357 Weseman et al 62344 X Gallo 62347 Woodmark et a1. 62347 Kocher et a1 62347 Alt 62347 X ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Examiner. 

1. AN ICE MAKING MACHING COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A FREEZINE PLATE HAVING A STEPPED CONFIGURATION PROVIDING PAIRS OF FIRST AND SECOND SURFACES FACING GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY ND UPWARDLY RESPECTIVELY TO DEFINE A SERIES OF HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING L-SHAPED CHANNELS, THE SECOND LOWER SURFACES DEFINING THE HORIZONTAL PORTION OF THE LSHAPE, SLOPING DOWNWARDLY; PARTITION MEANS POSITIONED PERIODICALLY ALONG SAID CHANNELS TO DEFINE CUBICLE SHAPED ENCLOSURES THEREBETWEEN HAVING OPEN TOP AND FRONT PORTIONS; FREEZING MEANS DISPOSED BEHIND SAID STEPPED CONFIGURATION; WATER SPILLING MEANS FOR CAUSING WATER TO FLOW ONTO SAID STEPPED CONFIGURATION WHEREBY ICE CUBES 